The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a tax hike, American voters say 55 - 36 percent, but in a
mixed message, voters agree 48 - 45 percent with the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding
the law, while they say 49 - 43 percent that the U.S. Congress should repeal it, according to a
Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

A total of 55 percent of American voters say a presidential candidate's position on health
care is "extremely important" or "very important" to their vote in November, the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. While 59 percent say the Supreme Court
decision will not affect their vote, 27 percent say it will make them less likely to vote for
President Barack Obama, while 12 percent say more likely. Independent voters say less likely
27 - 9 percent.

American voters split 48 - 47 percent on whether people should be required to have
health insurance. Opposed are Republicans 76 - 19 percent and independent voters 51 - 43
percent, while Democrats support the mandate 79 - 16 percent. Men oppose the mandate
50 - 45 percent, while women support it 50 - 45 percent.

"President Barack Obama has worked mightily to avoid the 'T' word, but most American
voters say the ACA is in effect a tax hike," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac
University Polling Institute. "The big question is whether the Republicans can sell the idea to
voters that the president's Affordable Care Act breaks his promise not to raise taxes on those
who make less than $250,000. That's why what voters believe on this issue matters."

A total of about two-thirds of American voters know something about the vote in the U.S.
House of Representatives to hold U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress.
Of that group, half were asked if they support the contempt vote, with support at 44 - 29 percent,
with 27 percent undecided. Among the other half, asked if it was a legitimate attempt to get
information or if it was politically motivated, 42 percent say the vote was political while 36
percent say it was legitimate, with 21 percent undecided.

"We asked different questions of two groups of voters. The answers were different but
not mutually exclusive. More voters in one group believe the contempt of Congress charges
against Attorney General Eric Holder are politically motivated. More voters in the other group
support the contempt citation," said Brown.

American voters approve 55 - 39 percent of President Obama's new policy to end
deportation of some young illegal immigrants. While 51 percent say the decision will not affect
their vote, 30 percent say it makes them less likely to vote for Obama while 18 percent say more
likely.

By 61 - 34 percent, voters want an Arizona-type law in their state, requiring police to
check the immigration status of someone they have already stopped or arrested if they suspect he
or she is in the country illegally.

The U.S. economy is as bad as Europe's, voters say: 14 percent say America's economy
is "excellent" or "good" while 86 percent say "not so good" or "poor;" Europe's economy is
"excellent" or "good," 11 percent say, while 81 percent say "not so good" or "poor."

A total of 67 percent of American voters are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned"
about the impact of the European economic situation on their personal economic future.

"Americans are watching what's going on in Europe and are concerned that problems
could make their way across the pond to the United States," said Brown.

On another topic, 80 percent of voters say the federal government needs to do more for
military veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

From July 1 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,722 registered voters with a margin of
error of +/- 1.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

32. Do you think Congress should try to repeal the health care law, or should they let it stand?

35. How important will the candidate's position on the healthcare law passed in 2010 be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important?

38. As you may know, the Obama administration has announced a new policy in which young illegal immigrants who came to the country as children will be able to obtain work permits and will not face deportation. Do you support or oppose this new policy?

40. As you may know, in 2010 the state of Arizona passed a law that requires police to verify the legal status of someone they have already stopped or arrested if they suspect that the person is in the country illegally. Do you approve or disapprove of Arizona's immigration law?

TREND: As you may know, in 2010 the state of Arizona passed a law that requires police to verify the legal status of someone they have already stopped or arrested if they suspect that the person is in the country illegally. Do you approve or disapprove of Arizona's immigration law? (2011 wording "As you may know, last year...")

41. Would you want to see a similar law passed in your state, requiring police to verify legal status of someone they have already stopped or arrested if they suspect that the person is in the country illegally?

43a. (If heard q42, Split Sample A) Do you believe the vote by the House of Representatives to hold Eric Holder in contempt was a legitimate attempt to get information or was it politically motivated, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

50. Do you think that the federal government today is doing enough to support military veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, are they doing too much, or do you think more needs to be done to support military veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan?